2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference

The LSBA Board of Directors knew that it was time for our association to rebrand itself and really focus on what “Good Governance” is all about. In leading today’s and tomorrow’s school board members and superintendents, understanding their roles and responsibilities are key in increasing better student outcomes. The LSBA Team and the LSBA Board of Directors did a deep dive into what today’s standards and best practices are for school board members and superintendents. We aligned that work to LSBA’s Mission: Leadership, Service and Support for School Boards. The LSBA developed its’ rebranding standards/best practices into the “Keys to Good Governance.” Attendees will learn what governance is/is not and how it takes the governance leadership team, that is comprised of school board members and the superintendent, to understand the importance of an established framework to keep everyone focused on “THE KEYS.” Participants will also gain an understanding that when there is a clear road map that provides an understanding of how to achieve set goals, it is a WIN-WIN for ALL educational stakeholders!

The current culture and political landscape often creates challenges to school district culture, impacting trust and belief in a school system with challenges that occur daily in school systems. This session will share strategies on how to navigate these challenges and elevate strategic thinking and planning to keep the focus on a school board's priorities.

The First Amendment continues to shape some of the most challenging issues facing public schools today. From religious expression and the Ten Commandments litigation in Arkansas and Louisiana to employee speech and other emerging legal disputes, school boards are increasingly called upon to make decisions with significant constitutional implications. This session will examine recent court cases and national trends, explain what they mean for local school districts, and provide practical guidance to help board members and school leaders navigate these complex issues while fulfilling their governance responsibilities.

How an underperforming Arkansas school district of 4,300 K-12 students used strategic branding, reduced variability, and robust instructional accountability structures to build teacher collective efficacy—ultimately boosting district-wide proficiency rates by 10% in both Math and ELA on state assessments in just one year. This will give a blueprint as well as feedback on what we would have done differently and provide examples for both board members and education Leaders on best and worst practices.

The Youth Violence Conflict Resolution Seminar is a community focused initiative dedicated to helping young people overcome challenges associated with violence and conflict. As schools across the nation continue to face challenges related to student conflict, bullying, gang involvement, and community violence, YVCRS offers a proactive approach focused on prevention, education, and empowerment.